Wow – I cannot believe it’s Christmas already. Only a few more things to wrap and hopefully some rest before the morning activities begin. It’s almost midnight and the kids have only just gone to bed after watching The Chronicles of Narnia on TV. The older they get, the later this night seems to creep. (Right about now is when we need nothing short of Harry Potter’s wand to get everything done.) Some quick reflections before the magic starts . . .

What a year of exclamation marks. As I look back on 2008 there are so many life-changing events. New house! New job! New puppy! New president! Emma’s last year in elementary school! Shannon starting kindergarten! Our beloved pastor retiring! Joel turned forty!! C’mon! Talk about a year of big things – there was nothing simple about it. So it’s no wonder why I found myself dwelling on the “wow” factor this week when Joel and I were shopping for the kids’ Christmas gifts. We found Emma’s wow – a new sewing machine. And JB’s wow – an electric guitar. But we were struggling with something to wow Shannon with, and we realized . . . everything wows Shannon. She’s five! So we decided to wow her with the thrill of opening presents, and instead of one pivotal gift, she is getting several opportunities to gasp and squeal and feel delight this year.

My reflections tonight are on my obsession with the awesome this year. I’ve been craving “wow” moments. The anti-simple things, if you will. I wanted to add an exclamation mark to the end of every hymn we sang this week. No silent night lullabies for me this year. I remember my middle school choir director telling us once that some words should be spoken (or sung) as though they always have an exclamation mark after them. ‘Hallelujah’ being one of them. ‘Amen’ another. It may have taken twenty years for that lesson to ferment in me, but I’m finally there.

I hope you experience a Christmas this year like the shepherds did – with something to make you quake at the sight. I hope you receive news like Mary did – which makes you want to burst into song. I hope you are inspired like the wise men – who dropped everything to hurry to see an infant king. I hope 2009 has us all finding our own pillars of fire, wondrous stars, annunciations, and revelations. I wish all of you a fall-on-your-knees Christmas moment. One you can ride all the way to Easter! Wow – wouldn’t that be awesome?

So many of you have touched our lives this year in truly meaningful and riveting ways, and for that I am so grateful. Thank you for sharing our anything-but-simple year with us and we look forward to sharing 2009 with you! Wow – you are all great friends! :)

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Well, I am going to give this blog thing a shot. I just wanted a chance to thank Jennifer for all her hard work on my 40th birthday party. She made unbelievable yummy food, got a wonderful cake, and was an excellent host to our guests. I am also so thankful for all the friends who were at the party, because it was a great mix of high school friends, neighborhood friends, and new friends from soccer. Our family is truly blessed. I only regret that distance sometimes keeps us from dear friends. Besides, all that could not make the party will never have the once in lifetime opportunity to let Shannon lead them on a tour of our new house. It was great time. The kids were so happy for their parents to have a party for my birthday. The smiles on their faces were priceless.
After reflecting on all my family, friendships, and my life in general as you do when you reach my age, I am reminded that Our God is an awesome God. I started to think of all the blessings that should be mentioned here, but one thought started to sum them all up for me, “I am blessed because God blesses me with all I need and not by what I deserve.”
I am not as loquacious as my wife, so this is brief. Have a great week and GO GREEN!!!

Joel and I have been married for 14 years. In those years we have lived in 9 different homes. How, may I ask, does a couple who moves that much ~ and theoretically purges that often ~ acquire so much stuff??? Seriously. A little less than a year ago I unpacked our china and crystal for the first time since 1996. (I'm a skeptic and a cynic so it makes perfect sense to me.) That was a commitment to stay where we were - believe me. We even threw the boxes away. If that isn't a great example of God laughing at our plans I don't know what is. Instead, tripping over, buying, and moving into a new home all within a three week process was in the scrolls. Who knew? And all those horror stories of kids who hate their parents and grow up to be bitter, resentful, victims of childhood because they had to move? Fergeddaboutit. Their enthusiasm continues to surprise me. I wish I adapted so well. But we're wading through the boxes and settling in. I'm actually looking forward to the holidays for a different reason this year - extra time off to unpack and hang pictures. Anyway, until then, the door is always open and you're always welcome. Please visit anytime.

The slideshow is a collection of photos I discovered that hadn't been posted yet or of things that have happened since the last blog (a month ago?) There are some missing that I haven't uploaded yet including choir performances and a trip to the Pistons game. You'll no doubt hear Shannon telling her story of getting on the big screen at the Palace. Yep, fifty thousand people saw that one - except her mom, who was in the bathroom. For a mom isn't that kind of like a man being in the bathroom when your team scores the winning touchdown? The best part is that every time Emma or Joel tell the story to someone they always include the sentence, "And mom missed it!"

Anyway, it looks like we're rounding out 2008 with a new chapter of large proportion. Who knows - it might even be good for me. We've only been here 23 days and I've already unpacked the china. C'mon - that's gotta be step one in someone's 12-step program, right?

We’re getting closer and closer to this becoming a photo log, aren’t we? Sorry – the calendar’s been a little jammed lately. Nothing that wasn’t totally fulfilling and enjoyable – just, well . . . busy. Last weekend was unbelievably exhausting, so this weekend was only marginally numbing by comparison. I’ll spare you the details and just give you the highlights.

The girls competed their highland dancing in Chelsea, MI last Saturday. They both did wonderfully – it was a tough competition and both girls placed in some or all of their dances. Chelsea’s not exactly around the corner, so the 4:45am start may have had some effect on the group. I know it played a role later that evening for Joel and me as we tried to put party hats on for a friend. I really just wanted to pull up a party pillow at that point . . . but with the help of a little caffeine we did it. Okay, maybe more than a little caffeine.

The big highlight this weekend was Emma singing the national anthem with her school choir at the Adams High School Highlander homecoming game on Friday night. Very cool experience! (Never mind the fact that I allowed it to occur on the field of my alma mater’s arch enemy.) I’m sure she’ll never forget it – there were nearly 800 people at the pizza party for performers alone. Wow – what a production! Check out the photo of Emma striking a pose just before performing. Yeah – she’s a bundle of nerves that one. (Ha!! I don’t think Emma’s ever met a jitter.)

Last weekend wasn’t completely void of soccer of course, but this weekend trumped it with three soccer games back-to-back-to-back Friday through Sunday. JB’s team has really come together and is enjoying some success in their league. JB is especially finding his role on the field and having a great time. They came back from a 2-0 deficit yesterday to win the game 2-3 in a nail biter. Complete with a penalty kick scored by Joel. Even Emma watched that one! It was big fun.

We visited with “downriver” family last weekend which is always nice. Also last weekend, we partied with “east side” friends for a very special birthday, and rocked out with “hometown” friends at a concert yesterday. Soon we’ll travel to the “west side” (of the state) to reconnect with friends there too. I feel like a real live version of “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?” If we haven’t seen you in a while, I don’t know how with all the ground we’ve covered . . . but chances are we’ll be there soon. I’ll keep taking pictures – or delegating that – and will do my best to keep the news up to date on the blog. Send hate mail if you must. Or send caffeine if you care. :)